Customs taps World Bank to fund $150-M modernization

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has tapped the World Bank to fund the modernization of its systems and operations to facilitate trade.

According to the BOC, it has adopted fully automated Customs processing system to replace the present electronic to mobile system or E2M through $150million financing from the World Bank.

“This $150-million project is envisioned to support BOC to reform and upgrade its systems, procedures and operational activities in order to improve transparency, accountability and predictability, streamlined and harmonized business processes in line with accepted international standards,” said Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero.

Guerrero, a former military chief, issued the statement at the conclusion of the recent three-day workshop on the Philippine Customs Modernization Project hosted by the World Bank in Manila.

BOC officials attended the workshop to explore options for the implementation of the proposed project.

This, Guerrero said, will “transform the bureau into a world-class Customs by streamlining and upgrading its operations and processes through information communications technology.”

For this project, he signed on April 1 Customs Special Order No. 44-2019 that will reconstitute the agency’s project management unit, which is tasked to administer, manage, plan and supervise the BOC modernization project.

“The modernization project is significant to BOC in order to improve efficiency in Customs administration,” said Guerrero’s chief of staff Teodoro Jumamil.

While BOC adopted the World Bankproposed system, BOC spokesman Erastus Dino Austria said the funding for the project has to be approved by the Department of Finance, BOC’s mother agency, Office of the President, and National Economic and Development Authority.

“The project is being explored,” he said in a Viber message to Customs reporters.